Pat Buchanan Urges Packwood To Resign

Conservative presidential contender Pat Buchanan urged Sen. Bob Packwood on Thursday to resign if the mounting allegations of sexual misconduct against him are true.

Buchanan, who faces four sitting senators in the race for the GOP nomination, also called for open, public hearings into the charges filed by 19 women - including one who said Packwood, R-Ore., grabbed and kissed her when she 17 years old.

“Clearly this goes beyond the pale,” Buchanan said in a telephone interview. “I would urge Senator Dole, Senator Gramm and the leadership to take a look at what this is doing to the reputation of our party among American women, working women.”

Republican Sens. Bob Dole of Kansas, Phil Gramm of Texas and Dick Lugar of Indiana, all announced presidential candidates, voted with the Senate majority last week against holding public ethics hearings in the Packwood case. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., another presidential hopeful, voted for the hearings.

“This most recent revelation (involving the minor) does change things,” Buchanan said. “If all the revelations are true, I think the proper thing for Senator Packwood to do is to step down and resign.”

That call was echoed Thursday by Rep. Elizabeth Furse, who released a letter to her senior Oregon colleague.

The Senate ethics committee reported in May that it found “substantial credible evidence” that Packwood made unwanted sexual advances toward 17 women in 18 instances between 1969 and 1990. Last week, the committee disclosed that it had received two additional complaints, including the accusation involving a minor.

Possible punishments include censure, loss of his Finance Committee chairmanship or expulsion.